KR20020001858A - Shallow depth back lit illuminated signage - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a compact, low-maintenance, back-illuminated signal plate 10, more particularly suitable for a vehicle. The shallow depth of backlit illumination signal plate 10 includes a housing 12, a light source 30 suitable for supplying light to the optical fiber 20, and at least one photometric diverging fiber 20. The housing 12 has a signal plate front face 14 and inner surfaces 16 and 18 including a rear face 19. The signal plate front face 14 has an illumination area for transmitting light diffusely. The rear surface 19 is located at a predetermined depth from the signal plate front surface 14. One or more photometric diverging fibers 20 are connected to receive light from the light source 30 and the housing to limit the amount of light emitted from the photometric diverging fiber (s) 20 going straight to the signal plate front face 14. It is mounted in 12.

Description

Shallow backlit illuminated signal boards {SHALLOW DEPTH BACK LIT ILLUMINATED SIGNAGE}

Lighting signs are used everywhere in many cities. Signs can provide education, entertainment, information or warnings to observers. Signal plates can be designed to be viewed from near or far. Lighting is provided to allow the observer to see the message, especially during dimly lit days or nights. Lamps need energy for power. Today's cities can easily provide power, but energy buyers are always looking for more efficient delivery of power and more efficient handling of power. The energy required to power the lighting signal boards should not be wasted for economic and environmental reasons. The illumination signal plate may be "front lit" (or front lit) or "back lit". The front emission type typically includes a signal plate, such as an advertisement board or other display panel, in which light is projected obliquely from the edge of the signal plate to the signal plate. Backlit typically has a translucent surface, so that illumination is visible through the translucent surface and a message or image is placed thereon. The uniformity of the light emitted from the translucent plane is important. Often the translucent plane includes several elements that diffuse light to reduce the possibility of the observer being able to distinguish between linear light sources or light spots in the signal plate housing. Typically the transmittance of the front of the back-lit signal board today is between 20% and 40%, which underlines the importance of highly reflective signal plate cavities. White paint has been used to make the inner cavity of these signal plates reflective.

Illumination signal plates have been manufactured in many shapes with various light sources. Lighting signal boards have been incorporated into or mounted as a fixture on a building or vehicle, a signboard or other device or facility. Whenever the signboard lights up, the power used should not be wasted. The lighting signal board has many geometric shapes. Illuminated signal boards having a complex periphery shape for carrying a prescheduled message are an entirely different type of signal board than illumination signals that depend on the Euclidean geometry in which the presumptive message is within the perimeter. In the industry, signal plates of the same type as the former are referred to as "channel letters" and generally referred to as "complex shape illumination signal plates". The latter is also referred to as a "sign cabinet" because the periphery of the signal board is independent of the message being conveyed. Non-limiting examples of signal cabinets include rectangular, oval, circular, oval and other Euclidean geometries. Non-limiting examples of intricately shaped illuminated signs include text, profiles, silhouettes, characters or other shapes that assist in advertising, education, alerts, etc. as required by the user.

In one particular application, an illuminated signal plate of the signal cabinet type which is backlit with fluorescent lighting has been mounted in front of the truck cab on the windshield on the tractor trailer truck. Such signal plates typically have a depth of at least 30 cm (12 in), a width of about 2 m (6.5 ft) and a height of about 50 cm (20 in). As in most vehicles, the interior cabin space within the cab of such trucks is limited. Therefore, it is desirable to use this space in the most efficient way possible. However, because of the depth of the signal plates (eg, more than 30 cm), too much useful internal cabin space had to be used to accommodate such lighting plates. The problem with this conventional truck signal plate is related to repairing the signal plate. The cabinet portion of these truck signal plates is integrated with the cap body of the truck. In addition, in order to protect fluorescent lamps and ballasts inside the rear-emitting truck signal board from the surrounding environment, the front of the signal board is usually sealed at a predetermined position using a rubber ring gasket, for example. After all, replacing burned bulbs and worn ballasts is time-consuming and expensive.

Accordingly, there is a need for a low maintenance type lighting signal board that is particularly compact in thickness (ie, depth) and that uses optical fibers and diffusely reflects light from the optical fiber (s). More specifically, the present invention relates to an illumination signal board which is compact in thickness (i.e. thin in depth) and requires little maintenance. More particularly, the present invention relates to an illumination signal board suitable for a vehicle (eg, a motor vehicle).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to backlit signal boards that are illuminated using optical fiber (s) and diffusely reflect light from the optical fiber (s). More specifically, the present invention relates to a light signal board which is compact in thickness (i.e., shallow in depth) and requires no maintenance. More particularly, the present invention relates to an illumination signal board suitable for a vehicle (eg, a motor vehicle). The invention also relates to methods of making and using these signal plates.

1 is a partial cutaway perspective view of a signal board of the present invention.

2 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a mid-sized truck equipped with a signal plate of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of another signal plate of the present invention that can be mounted to the heavy truck of FIG.

4 is a cross-sectional view of the optical fiber and the housing of the signal plate mounted on the truck of FIG.

5A and 5B are cross-sectional views of two metering fibers that can be used in the signal plate of the present invention.

What is required in the field of lighting signal board technology is particularly compact and low-maintenance rear-illuminated light signal boards, in particular in vehicles (e.g. cars, buses, trucks, trains, airplanes, ships and Backlit signal boards suitable for aircraft).

One aspect of the invention is a shallow depth backlit illumination signal plate comprising a housing, a light source and at least one photometric diverging fiber. The housing has a front face and an inner face including a back face. The signal plate front has an illumination area (ie, the signal plate front area to be illuminated) that transmits light from inside the housing to diffuse out of the housing. At least some, and most preferably, not all of the interior surfaces have sufficient reflectivity to provide luminance uniformity to the signal plate. Preferably, the inner surface also has sufficient diffuse reflectivity to provide luminance efficiency for the signal plate (ie the ratio of the amount of light transmitted from the signal plate to the amount of light emitted from the fiber). The back side is located at a predetermined depth from the signal plate, and the signal plate has a large aspect ratio (or aspect ratio).

The light source is suitable for supplying light to the optical fiber. Preferably, the light source is located outside of the housing but not far enough to adversely lose the fiber's efficiency (ie, require significantly more power to function properly). The amount of light emitted from the fiber (s) in which one or more photometric diverging fibers are connected to receive light from the light source and travel straight to the front of the signal plate (ie, at least not reflected from the diffuse reflection surface before proceeding to the front of the signal plate). It is mounted in the housing to greatly limit it. These types of fibers can be rigid or flexible.

The amount of emitted light going straight to the front of the signal plate is considered to be greatly limited when there is a visible "hot spot" that is visually obvious (at normal contrast sensitivity) and undesirable or bad on the front of the signal plate. In order to prevent the divergent light from traveling straight in front of the signal plate in this way, the metering fiber (s) are preferably located on the inner surface of the housing, where the light allows incidence of the back or other parts of the inner surface. While the emitted light is emitted from the fiber (s) in a sufficiently narrow angular distribution (eg, 5 to 20 degrees) that travels in a direction generally parallel to the front of the signal plate.

The diffusely reflective portion of the inner surface is preferably a film or sheet attached to the inside of the housing, for example by an adhesive. In addition, the back side may preferably be diffusely reflective and have a concave curvature with respect to the front of the signal plate. The signal plate is preferably a signal cabinet and may have a housing mountable to the vehicle.

The front of the signal plate "transmitting light diffusely" is to scatter the transmitted light, preferably having a low light absorption to provide brightness and the required degree of brightness uniformity to the front of the signal plate and between light transmission and reflectance In the right balance.

Where the "aspect ratio" is large, the illumination area in front of the signal board is larger than the length or depth between the front and back surfaces of the signal board. Typically, the depth is substantially smaller than the main dimension of the housing.

"Film" means a thin flexible sheet prior to contacting the signal plate housing.

By "reflective" surface is meant a surface which is reflective without becoming a reflecting surface (or specular reflector). "Reflective" is an adjective of "reflection", a noun expressed in the industry standard ASTM E (E) 1164-94, established by the American Society for Testing and Materials.

By "luminance uniformity" is meant that the erection of light emitted from the translucent plane is substantially uniform at various locations on the surface, which in turn provides a signal plate with little known position of the light source in the signal plate housing.

"Hot spot" means an area on the front of a signal plate with an identifiably high erection, and is typically caused by light that is not reflected and not diffused straight into the front of the signal plate.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle comprising the aforementioned signal plate. The vehicle may for example be a car such as a truck. The vehicle may preferably be a truck with a cap having an outer surface and an interior cabin space, where the signal plate is deep and the front of the signal plate is approximately flush with the exterior surface and the housing extends into the interior cabin space. If possible, it is mounted on the cap to extend a little. Typically the boundaries of the inner cabin are at least somewhat limited by the headliner. The back side of the housing preferably does not extend beyond the headliner. Preferably, the size of the housing is adapted to fit between the outside of the truck cap and the headliner.

The signal plates of the present invention for use in vehicles are energy efficient and do not require a separate power supply from the vehicle's conventional power generation system (eg battery). The invention can also be made environmentally friendly. In the present invention, there are no waste problems such as in fluorescent light systems which may contain heavy metals such as mercury in some fluorescent lights.

In another aspect of the present invention, a back-illuminated illuminated signal plate with a shallow depth of non-assembled state is provided. The non-assembled back-illuminated illuminated signal plate comprises a signal plate front panel and at least one internal space panel, which can be assembled to form a housing, a light source for supplying light to the optical fiber, and at least one photometric divergent fiber It includes. The signal plate front panel has an illumination area for diffusely transmitting light and at least one inner face panel that can be assembled to form a housing. The inner surface of the housing can be a single panel formed or multiple panels that can be assembled. The signal plate may be provided as a single structure (eg sealed) as well as several pieces. When assembled to form the housing, the inner panel (s) form an inner surface of the housing including the back surface, wherein at least a portion of the inner surface is sufficiently reflective to provide luminance uniformity to the assembled signal plate. The rear surface is located at some depth from the front of the signal board, and the illumination area is large compared to the depth. The metering divergent fiber is connectable to receive light from the light source and can be mounted in an assembled housing to greatly limit the amount of light emitted from the fiber going straight in front of the signal plate.

The diffuse reflection of the inner surface may be provided by at least one diffusely reflective film that is pre-attached or detached to the at least one inner surface panel but is attachable thereto. Further, the at least one inner surface panel may be a plurality of inner surface panels and the diffuse reflection of the inner surface may be provided by the plurality of diffusely reflective films, wherein each film is pre-attached to the at least one inner surface panel or It is detached but attachable.

Preferably a plurality of inner side panels are used, the back side being formed by at least two inner side panels.

In another aspect of the invention, the non-assembled signal plate is provided in the form of a package kit.

The diffusely reflective portion of the inner surface of the housing captures lumens from the light source or lumens of light reflected back from the side or back of the diffuser panel or housing (optical cabinet) and directs this light back to the viewer, thereby directing the light to the viewer. Provides luminance uniformity on the translucent plane of.

The diffuse reflectivity of the entire inner surface is preferably at least 80%, preferably at least about 90%, more preferably at least about 92%, and more, as measured using ASTM E1164-94 at a wavelength of 550 nm. Preferably at least about 94%.

The reflectance of the film can be controlled to provide the desired brightness reduction as well as improved brightness uniformity as required by those skilled in the art of signal plate construction. Improvement in the luminance uniformity can greatly reduce the power provided to the signal plate. Thus, both the use and aesthetics of the signal plate can be improved by the present invention.

Although the invention has been described herein in connection with specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, rearrangements, and substitutions may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended that the scope of the invention only be limited by the appended claims.

Hereinafter, several signal plates of the present invention will be described. Since these signal boards contain the same or at least similar components, the descriptions of these components will not be repeated herein, and the same reference numerals will be used.

Referring to Figure 1, the shallow back-illuminated illuminated signal plate 10 of the present invention generally includes a housing 12 having a signal plate front face 14 and one or more interior surfaces 16, 18 and 19. do. The signal plate front face 14 has an illumination area for transmitting light from the inside of the housing 12 to diffuse from the housing 12. In the cabinet-like signal plate 10, the image is usually on the signal plate front face 14. Due to the rectangular shaped housing 12, the inner surface (s) has an inner surface 16 which is a (horizontal) top surface and a bottom surface, an inner surface 18 which is two (eg vertical) sides, It may include an inner surface 19 that is (eg, vertical) back side. The illumination area of the signal plate front face 14 is larger than the distance or depth between the signal plate front face 14 and the back face 19. In the illumination signal board 10, the depth between the signal board front face 14 and the back face 19 is less than the distance or depth between the side faces 18 and the distance or height between the top and bottom faces 16.

At least a portion of the interior of the housing 12 is sufficiently reflective to provide the overall brightness efficiency and uniformity required for the signal plate 10. The diffusely reflective portion of the inner surface 16, 18, 19 may be a diffusely reflective film attached (eg, by suitable adhesive, mechanical fasteners, etc.) to the inner side of the housing panel corresponding to the inner surface 16, 18, 19; Provided by sheet. Non-limiting examples of mechanical fasteners include Scotchmate® and Dual Lock® fastening systems manufactured by 3M Company. These housing panels can be made of any of a variety of inexpensive and heat resistant materials such as, for example, aluminum, steel, plastic, wood, particle boards, and the like. Since the larger the diffusely reflecting region of the inner surface, the more lumen of light from the optical fiber (s) can be used more efficiently, all the regions of each of the inner surfaces 16, 18, 19 are preferably diffusely reflective. That is, the amount of light lost in absorption is small. Hereinafter, such diffusely reflective films, sheets, and other means will be described in more detail.

The at least one photometric diverging fiber 20 greatly limits the amount of light emitted from the fiber going straight to the signal plate front face 14 and prior to proceeding to the signal plate front face 14 (eg, internal surfaces 16, 18). And / or 19) are arranged inside the housing to maximize the amount of light emitted from the fiber reflected at least once. In order to prevent the emitted light from going straight to the signal plate front 14 in this way, the metering fiber (s) 20 are preferably located on the inner surface of the housing 12, wherein the light is directed to the target surface (ie At a sufficiently narrow angular distribution (e.g., 5 to 20 degrees) allowing the emitted light to travel in a direction generally parallel to the signal plate front face 14 while allowing a first incidence to the back face 19 or other inner faces). Light is emitted from the photometric fiber (s) 20. In addition, the metering fiber (s) 20 are preferably mounted along the bottom and / or top surface 16 such that the emitted light has a short travel distance before being reflected from the inner surface relative to the width of the housing 12. May be When the distance between the optical fiber and the target surface becomes short, the angular distribution of the emitted light may increase. Hereinafter, exemplary metering fibers will be described.

The light source 30 for supplying light to the photometric fiber 20 is located outside of the housing 12 but not so far from the housing 12 as to significantly reduce the efficiency of the fiber. The free end of the photometric fiber 20 is inserted into the light source 30. Hereinafter, the connection between the exemplary light source 30 and the photometric fiber 20 will be described in detail.

Referring to Figure 2, a particular cabinet signal plate 40 according to the present invention is mountable in front of a truck cap 42 on the windshield of a heavy truck, such as a class 7 and a class 8 heavy truck. The signal plate 40 has a housing 46 having a photometric fiber 20, a light source 30, and a signal plate front 44 of, for example, a frosted glass structure for automobiles (hereinafter described in detail with reference to FIG. 4). ). The signal plate front face 44 is sealed in place using, for example, a rubber ring gasket 48. The signal plate front 44 of FIG. 2 has an image 50 (e.g., a character) designed to illuminate the background rather than the image 50 itself. Optionally, another signal plate front face 44a may be used having an image designed to illuminate the image 50 itself, not the background.

The housing 46 of the signal plate 40 has a depth of about 55 mm (2 in), a width of about 2 m (6.5 ft) and a height of about 50 cm (20 in), for example. Conventional signal plates used in such trucks have a depth of at least 12 inches (30 cm). Because the signal plate 40 is shallow in depth, it uses very little internal cabin space in the cab 42 of such trucks. As a result, a sufficiently large cabin space can be used, giving the truck driver another useful space, such as storage shelf 52, for example. This advantage with additional cabin space can be realized in other vehicles.

Referring to FIG. 4, the housing 46 of the signal plate 40 has an inner surface 19 that is a rear surface, an inner surface 16 that is an upper surface and a bottom surface, and two inner surfaces that are side surfaces (not shown). . The back side 19 of the housing 46 preferably has a radius of curvature R of about 72 cm (29.57 in). The back 19 of the housing 46 is optionally flat and parallel to the signal plate front 44 (shown in phantom). Because of this shallow depth (5.5 cm), the housing 46 can be mounted in the space between the outside of the truck cap 42 and the headliner 54. In addition, since the signal plate 40 is illuminated by the photometric fiber 20 and the light source 30 is located outside of the housing 46 (eg, mounted on the storage shelf 52), the conventional back light emission The problems associated with repairing truck signal boards may not occur. There is no need to touch the photometric fiber 20 inside the housing 46 and the light source 30 can be manufactured to be easily touched for routine maintenance and repair.

Yes

Metering fiber

Many types of photometric fibers can be used in the articles of the present invention. Particularly suitable optical fibers are made of polymerizable materials and are made of 3M Company (Saint Paul, Minnesota), Lumenite International, Inc. (Costa Mesa, Calif.) ), Fiberstars, Inc. (Fremont, Calif.), Bridgestone Corp. (Tokyo, Japan), Rohm and Hass Co. (Philadelphia, PA), and one or more sources such as Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan).

5A and 5B, the photometric fiber 60 includes a high refractive index core 61 and a low refractive index cladding 62 placed in the jacket 64, and a diffuse reflective sheet material between the jacket and the low refractive index cladding. The strip 66 is arranged. Figure 5a shows a circular design and Figure 5b shows a rectangular design. Other shapes and structures can likewise be used. “Metering” may be selectively extracted from the metering fiber 60 by diffuse or direct light extraction structures in the metering fiber 60. If direct light extraction is used, the scattered light is preferably directed towards strip 66 of diffusely reflective sheet material. If the metering fiber 60 is formed in the core 61 and the cladding 62 (ie, notched side extraction) as disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,432,876 (Appeldorn et al.) Incorporated herein by reference, the notch 67 ) Face the diffusely reflective strip 66 and the expanded light is directed away from the strip 66.

The maximum amount of light in the photometric fiber is useful for extraction directly adjacent to the light source. A decreasing amount of light is useful under the core because light has already been extracted. Thus, the screened extraction is preferably performed such that the minimum amount of light extraction occurs closest to the light source and the maximum amount of light extraction occurs farthest from the light source. The notches are spaced to generate this screening extraction.

Examples of metering fibers that produce acceptable results are as follows.

(1) 12 mm wide white Scotchcal® vinyl strips of sheet material, catalog numbers 7725-20 and 3630-20, manufactured and sold by 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn. Mm optical fiber

(2) 12 mm optical fiber with notched lateral extract manufactured and sold by Lumenite International, Inc., Costa Mesa, CA.

Diffusely reflective film or sheet

Diffuse reflection provides luminance with reflectivity over a range of angles regardless of the angle at which the incident radiant energy forms with respect to the macro diffuse reflection sheet material surface. This property of diffusely reflective film or sheet allows such materials to be used to reflect very high direct sunlight and to provide diffused light in the illuminated area.

For example, various diffusely reflective materials are known, including compressed cakes, ceramic tiles or opaque glass shaped white inorganic pigments. These materials are expensive, hard and brittle.

The diffusely reflective sheet material comprises particles and a fine cavity particle filled sheet having diffuse reflection due to the difference in refractive index in the surrounding matrix, such as an air filled cavity created or enlarged by stretching. In addition, the microporous material made of, for example, sintered polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) made in sheet form can also serve as a retroreflective material.

Preferred diffusely reflective sheet materials for use in the present invention are at least about 90%, preferably at least about 92%, and more preferably at least about 94%, measured using ASTM E 1164-94 at a wavelength of 550 nm. It includes all sheet materials having a reflectance of. Special sheet materials useful in the present invention include, but are not limited to, sintered poly (tetrafluoroethylene) as disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,596,450 and filled polyolefin reactivity as disclosed in European Patent Application 724,181. Sheets, biaxially stretched white polyester laminated film as disclosed in US Patent Application No. 5,672,409, and Tyvek® nonwoven polyethylene (manufactured by DuPont Co., Wilmington, Delaware) Fibers, Mellinex (Melinex) Titania-filled micro-copolyethylene terephthalate (manufactured by ICI Plastics, Wilmington, Delaware), and Minnesota (Catalog Nos. 7725-20 and 3630-20) Scotch Knife® vinyl sheet material manufactured by 3M Company, St. Paul, Min., And has an average diffuse reflectivity of 94% to 95%. White vinyl film VS8480 manufactured by 3M Company of St. Paul, and Geber® Catalog No. 220-20 (manufactured by Geber Scientific Inc., Windsor, South Connecticut) Other white films, such as 230-20, and Porepelon (manufactured by Smitomo Electric Industries, Osaka, Japan) -breed polytetrafluoroethylene sheet material paper type synthetic poly (ethylene tere Phthalate (PET) sheet material and similar microporous sheet material or filled sheet materials as long as the sheet material exhibits the required reflectivity.

Other particular suitable diffusely reflective sheet materials include microporous polyolefin materials incorporated herein and incorporated by reference, which may be referred to as TIPS sheet materials as disclosed in US Pat. Nos. 4,539,251, 4,726,989, and 4,867,881. TIPS means "thermally induced phase separation". TIPS sheet materials typically comprise a thermoplastic polymerizable structure having a plurality of cells interconnected by passages to provide a pore network in which adjacent cells communicate with each other. This structure is oriented in at least one direction. The thermoplastic polymerizable structure can be substantially uniform and the porous structure can exhibit an internal gradient. The cell typically comprises an empty space surrounded by fibrous, laced or semicontinuous boundaries.

Microporous TIPS sheet materials can be prepared from known thermoplastic polymers including olefinic condensation and oxidizing polymers. Representative olefinic polymers include acrylate containing polymers such as high and low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl polymers, butadiene containing polymers and poly (methyl methacrylate). Condensation polymers include polyethers such as poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly (butylene terephthalate) (PBT); Polyamides such as nylon® 6, nylon 11, nylon 13 and nylon 66; Polycarbonate; Polysulfones. Poly (phenylene oxide) is a representative oxidizing polymer capable of forming TIPS sheet materials. Mixtures of the aforementioned thermoplastic polymers may also be used. Preferably, TIPS sheet materials useful in the present invention include polyolefins, more preferably polyethylene and polypropylene, and more preferably polypropylene.

Such diffuse reflection properties include, for example, polyolefin films filled with white particles, incompatible polymer mixtures, polyolefin multilayer films; Microcavity polyolefins and polyester films; A fluorinated polyolefin film; A vinyl chloride polymerizable film filled with white particles; An acrylic film filled with white particles; Polyolefin film co-extruded with ethylene vinyl acetate film; It may also be obtained using various films such as combinations thereof.

Examples of diffusely reflective films that produce acceptable results are as follows.

(1) White TIPS film having an average diffuse reflectance of approximately 97%, described above and manufactured by 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn.

(2) White vinyl film made by 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn., No.844, having an average diffuse reflectance of 94-95%.

Diffuse Transmissive Signal Board Front

Examples of the front face of a diffusely transmissive signal plate that produce acceptable results are as follows.

(1) Commercially available PMMA {poly (methyl methacrylate) sheet containing TiO ₂ and having a thickness of 6.4 mm

(2) Molded PMMA Signal Board Front

(3) Frosted Automotive Grade Laminated Glass

(4) Clear molded PMMA with 3M 3635 film made by 3M Company of St. Paul, Minnesota. White diffusely transmissive film applied to the inner surface

(5) Transparent glass with 3M 3635 film applied on the inside.

Light source

The light source or illuminator is an illuminating device which is for example a 12 mm diameter optical fiber. It can accommodate any MR-16 halogen projector bulb and reflector combination (lamp) having a focal point as a light source, and any 2.4 x 2.4 inch box fan for forced convection cooling (when needed). The main intended use is for lamps whose power matches the voltage of the available external power source, and for fans whose voltage and current forms match the voltage and current form of the external power. No additional power supply components (converters, voltage regulators, etc.) are required to operate the fixture. For example, when 12VDC external power can be used, a 12V lamp and a 12VDC box fan are selected to be directly connected in parallel to the external power. When multiple 12V lamps can be used, it should be chosen that the wattage and focusing characteristics closely match the flow rate requirements of the fiber application. When several 12 VDC fans can be used, ones with air flow and noise levels that almost meet the system requirements should be selected. Clearly, by choosing the right lamps and fans, the illuminator can function in a variety of fiber applications.

The most important features of the fixture design include (1) versatility, (2) low cost, (3) external housing temperature control and (4) scattered light minimization of the illuminator. Versatility is supported by lamp holders (## HH707 of Gilway Technical Lamp, Woburn, MA) and all MR (such as those manufactured by USHIO, Tokyo, Japan). This is achieved by using a socket that can accept a -16 lamp (# H989 from Gilway Technical Lamp, Woven, Mass.). The holder is screwed into any one of the three pairs of screw holes of the illuminator base plate via a slot in the base. Several holes along the play provided by the slot allow the illuminator to accommodate lamps having a focusing length of 0.5 to 2.5 in. The contact pin on the lamp is inserted into the socket, the lamp is snapped into the holder, and the lead on the socket is screwed through a hole in the rear center of the base plate. The hole includes a thermally and electrically insulated grommet to prevent melting and shorting of the socket leads.

The face plate is attached at right angles to the front face of the base plate by screws. A standard electric press fit (# CGB195 from Cooper Industry, Syracuse-Hinds Division, NY) is screwed into the screw hole on the faceplate to provide an inexpensive optical fiber chuck (Figure 1). 70). The center of the hole is on the same straight line as the focusing axis of the lamp when the lamp is positioned in the holder of the base plate. The compression fitment accommodates a 0.475 inch inner diameter, 0.600 inch outer diameter transparent polycarbonate sleeve, approximately 4 inches long, cut longitudinally through one side and partially through the opposite side (72 in FIG. 1). The sleeve is "pried" open, the fiber is inserted into the sleeve, and the sleeve is press-fitted around the fiber. The fiber and sleeve are then inserted into the compression fitting so that the ends of the fiber are located at the focal point of the lamp. Compression fits are tightened to hold the fiber and sleeve in place. The sleeve fits tightly in the compression fitter and stiffens the fiber to keep the fiber parallel to the lamp's focusing axis. Significant cost savings are realized by using standard electric compression fittings to maintain the fibers.

The remaining components of the illuminator are manufactured by cutting, stamping and bending the sheet metal. This manufacturing method greatly contributes to controlling the cost.

The bottom housing (with optional feet) is connected to the bottom and base plate of the faceplate via offsets which are thermally insulated using screws. The offset helps control the outer housing temperature by preventing heat conduction from the base plate (heated by exposure to radiation from the lamp) to the outer bottom housing. The lead from the socket passes through the hole in the rear center of the bottom housing. The hole includes an electrically insulating gomet to prevent friction and shorting of the socket leads.

The heat shield is placed on the base plate with the front face between the end of the lamp and the fiber, so that the tabs on the back face are in contact with the back of the base plate and the fiber extends forward just inside the front face of the heat shield. Slide The heat shield is screwed into the base plate and held in place. The heat shield absorbs large amounts of scattered light from the bulb and converts it to heat. Air flowing across the shield from one side to the other side controls the temperature within the shield by removing heat from the outer surface of the shield and flowing through the vents on the side. The vent is oriented such that a small amount of scattered light exiting the shield is directed primarily to the front of the illuminator. The heat shield is critical for controlling the temperature of the outer upper housing when a bulb consuming more than 150 W of power is used. Since the shield is adapted to absorb light and convert it to heat, it is preferably made of black metal such as anodized aluminum.

The box fan is attached to the outside of the upper housing over the retainer on the side of the housing. The box fan is adapted to suck air from inside the housing above the holder on the side of the housing. Although pushing the air has also proved to be efficient for cooling, the box fan is designed to suck air from inside the housing. The upper housing is positioned above the fixture and fastened to the bottom housing by screws. The heat dissipation hole on the side of the housing is oriented so that the opening faces the rear of the illuminator. This is important for minimizing the scattered light, and the scattered light exiting the heat shield is directed forward to exit the heat sink only a little. The leads from the fan and the lamp are connected to a power source external to the illuminator housing, for example the power source of the vehicle.

Examples of light sources include the use of MR 16 halogen bulbs having a voltage in the range of 15 to 24 V and wattage in the range of 75 to 150 W, whether AC or DC.

First example

Initial prototypes were developed for experimental instruments to implement the concept. Initial prototypes were made by bending standard aluminum sheet metal into a rectangular box of 16 "x 79" x 2 ". Five metal box sides were bonded with pressure sensitive adhesive (psa) complementary TIPS film. TiO ₂ of titanium added oxide having an irregular reflection of the 60% 6.4 ㎜ PMMA poly (methyl methacrylate) was prepared as a sheet material. signal plate fixture was formed by using the side extraction light fiber and the distance the light source. fibers manufactured by 3M Made of one 12 mm diameter optical fiber 1 mm wide strip of TiO ₂ vinyl film with pressure sensitive adhesive (which is a Scotchcal film made of sheet material manufactured by 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn.) This was applied along the length of the fiber to provide lateral extraction, after which the fiber (Zeus Industrial Products, Raritan, NJ) Manufactured Inc.) was applied by heat-condensing property fluoropolymer cladding.

The fibers provided were located along the entire length of the bottom edge of the signal plate cavity. The extraction strip was positioned to raise light across the box surface bonded to the film. Holes were drilled on the sides of the box adjacent the lower edges and the fibers extended approximately 25 cm outside of the box. The end of the fiber extending out of the box was connected to a compact light source, including the 150 W Japan's Ushio MR-16 halogen bulb. Fostec Model Number The Postec ACE TM light engine has a modified halogen 15 W MR16 projector bulb. The POSTECH light engine was manufactured by POSTECH Inc., Auburn, NY. The fiber tip was placed at the focal point of the halogen bulb to maximize the light entering the fiber. Opposite ends of the optical fiber were covered with 12 mm disks made of Silverlux® reflective film made by 3M.

Second example

The second prototype was manufactured at Electrorovacuum AS in Ostfold, Norway and shipped in 3M. The signal plate box was press molded using TiO ₂ PMMA with an average diffuse reflectance of approximately 60%. The box was molded to fit the shape of a Volvo H (3) model heavy truck glass signal plate. Approximate dimensions inside the box were 190 cm x 40 cm x 4 cm. Boxes electroformed at Electrobacum were experimental and not standard.

The back and sides inside the box were bonded with TIPS (the same film as the one described in the first example). The second example was produced using the same optical fiber as described in the first example. A 2.25 m fiber with vinyl tape white scotch knife film made by 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn., Was positioned along the bottom edge of the back half of the signal box. The extraction strip was positioned to upward the metered light emitted across the box surface to which the film was bonded. On the side of the box adjacent the bottom edge a hole was cut and the fiber extended approximately 25 cm outside of the box. The fiber was again illuminated with an MR 16 halogen bulb.

Third example

The third example was made using the back half of the signal plate box described in the second example. The standard frosted glass of the Volvo H3 model truck signal board was used as the signal board front and box lid. The box was again bonded with a diffuse reflective film. The film used in the third example was a TiO ₂ containing vinyl film having an average reflectance of 95%, product number VS8480 manufactured by 3M.

Fourth example

The signboard cavity is a truck manufactured by Rierte Society Aubergenville, France, at the exposed corners of the truck sheet metal along the top and bottom of the signboard opening to enclose the two side edges of the box. It was formed by laminating a 3M VS8480 film on the back of the headliner and attaching a PMMA panel laminated with 3M VS8480. A 12 mm optical fiber with a side extract with the side extraction direction directed towards the top of the box was fastened with a mechanical clip on the lower edge of the sheet metal. The front of the sign was a standard Volvo H3 frosted glass manufactured by Philkington Industries, Lancashire, UK. The nominal signal plate thickness was 60 mm at the top edge, 57 mm at the center, and 89 mm at the bottom edge of the front of the signal plate.

5th example

A stack of 3M 8480 films, made by Milliken and Company, LaGrange, GA, a sheet of 420 denier nylon fibers that is fastened across the opening of the signal plate on the H3 Volvo Truck Cap Shell. It was used to create a plate cavity. The corners were mitered and covered to form the side panels for the signal plate cavity. Again a 12 mm optical fiber with lateral extraction was fastened to the bottom sheet edge. The thickness of the nominal signal plate cavity was about 75 mm to 100 mm across the front of the signal plate.

6th example

A 3M VS 8480 vinyl film was laminated to 0.060 "PETG and then attached to the arc shaped signal plate openings to form the back panel for the signal plate cavity. The back panel was plastic that was applied to the truck seat metal using 3M acrylic foam tape. It was attached to the upper and lower edges of the signal plate opening using a window forming track (purchased from Mennards). The signal plate cavity sides were also made of 0.060 "PETG polyethylene terephthalate glycolate laminated with LEF film Cut to fit the curve of the arc. Sheet metal exposed along the top and bottom edges of the signal plate cavity was also laminated to 3M VS8480 film. The thickness of the signal plate cavity was approximately 75 mm at the deepest point of the arc and 64 mm at the top edge of the arc.

The notched side extraction light fiber with the extraction light directed towards the top of the box was attached to the lower edge of the sheet metal of the signal plate cavity. Volvo H3 truck frosted glass was used as the signal board front. Manufactured by Pilkington Industries, Lancashire, UK.

7th example

Same as the sixth example, except that the signal plate front face was made of a standard sheet formed of 6.4 mm acrylic sheet and cut into the shape of the glass front face. The acrylic panel was then laminated with 3M 3635 white diffuse transmissive film on the inner face of the signal plate front. This film can also be applied to the inner surface of the transparent glass signal plate front face.

Claims (18)

For a shallow depth of backlit illumination signal plate, (a) a housing having an inner surface including a rear surface and a signal plate front surface; (b) a light source for supplying light to the optical fiber, (c) at least one photometric diverging fiber, The front of the signal plate has an illumination area and light from the inside of the housing is transmitted to diffuse out of the housing through the illumination area, and at least a portion of the inner surface provides luminance uniformity to the signal plate. Has a diffuse reflectance sufficient to the back surface is located at a predetermined depth from the front of the signal plate, the illumination area is large with respect to the depth, The at least one photometric diverging fiber is connected to receive light from the light source and mounted in the housing to greatly limit the amount of light emitted from the at least one photometric diverging fiber straight ahead of the signal plate Shallow back-lit illuminated signal board. 2. The shallow back-emitting illumination signal board of claim 1, wherein the diffusely reflective portion of the inner surface is a film. The shallow depth of backlit illumination signal board of claim 1, wherein at least a majority of the inner surface has diffuse reflection. The shallow back-emitting illumination signal plate of claim 1, wherein the rear surface has diffuse reflection and has a concave curvature with respect to the front surface of the signal plate. The shallow depth of backlit illumination signal plate of claim 1, wherein the light source is outside the housing. 2. The shallow back-emitting illumination signal board of claim 1, wherein one of said photometric diverging fibers is mounted on an inner surface of said housing along a front side surface of said signal plate. The light emitting device of claim 1, wherein one of the photometric diverging fibers is mounted on the inner surface of the housing and restrained sufficiently to limit the amount of light emitted from the one fiber straight ahead of the signal plate. Shallow back-lit illuminated signal board characterized in that the angular distribution is visible. The shallow depth of backlit illumination signal plate of claim 1, wherein the signal plate is a signal cabinet. The shallow depth of back lighted illumination signal board of claim 1, wherein the housing is mountable to a vehicle. A vehicle comprising the signal plate according to claim 1. 11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the vehicle is a truck. 12. The truck of claim 11, wherein the truck has a cap having an exterior surface and an interior cabin space, the signal plate having a depth, the signal plate face is approximately flush with the exterior surface and the housing is inside the interior. A vehicle, characterized in that it is mounted to the cab so as to extend a little even if it extends into the cabin space. 12. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the interior cabin space is at least partially defined by a headliner and the size of the housing is adapted to fit between the outside of the truck cab and the headliner. In the back-illuminated light signal board having a shallow depth of the non-assembled state, (a) a signal plate front panel having an illumination area for diffusingly transmitting light and at least one inner face panel that can be assembled to form a housing; (b) a light source for supplying light to the optical fiber, (c) a photometric divergence fiber connectable to receive light from the light source, the photometric divergence fiber mountable in an assembled housing to greatly limit the amount of light emitted from the fiber straight ahead of the signal plate; When assembled to form the housing, (Iii) the at least one inner surface panel forms an inner surface of the housing comprising a back surface; (Ii) at least a portion of the inner surface has sufficient diffuse reflection to provide luminance uniformity to the assembled signal plate, (Iii) the rear surface is located at some depth from the front of the signal plate, And (iii) the illumination area is larger in depth than the depth, wherein the depth of the non-assembled state is shallow. 15. The non-assembled depth of claim 14, wherein the diffuse reflection of the inner surface is provided by at least one diffusely reflective film that is pre-attached or detached to the at least one inner surface panel but is attachable thereto. Shallow backlit light sign. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one inner surface panel is a plurality of inner surface panels and the diffuse reflectivity of the inner surface is provided by a plurality of diffusely reflective films, wherein each of the films is provided on at least one of the inner surface panels. A shallow depth of back-illuminated illumination signal plate, pre-attached or detached, but attachable thereto. 15. The shallow back-emitting illumination signal board of claim 14, wherein said at least one inner panel is a plurality of inner panel and a back is formed by at least two inner panel. A non-assembled signal board according to claim 14 provided in the form of a package kit.